Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board video conference hearing. His claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are still pending.

The Board has granted the claim of service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, finding that it is related to noise exposure during active service.

The Board found that the appellant's hearing loss did not meet VA compensation criteria and was not related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in service or were otherwise related to active duty. The Veteran's hearing loss was attributed to idiopathic origin, while his tinnitus had a long history.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and obtaining any outstanding private healthcare records.

The Board has granted service connection for status post bursectomy, right hip and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for plantar fasciitis of the feet, shin splints, and dry eye syndrome are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service exposure to noise trauma. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and requires additional development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including considering the timing of their onset and any in-service noise exposure. The Veteran will be provided with an examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and right ear hearing loss were not incurred in or related to service. The Veteran was denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right inguinal hernia, chronic renal failure, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development due to conflicting findings regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability and its relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right hand disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions at any point during the pendency of his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to November 17, 2012. However, a 40 percent rating was granted effective from November 17, 2012.

Service connection for bilateral eye retinal detachment with retinal puckering status post laser repair was granted, and a compensable rating of 10% was assigned from November 13, 2006 to February 12, 2012. The Veteran is seeking an even higher initial rating.

For the period of the appeal, the criteria for the assignment of an initial rating of 50 percent for service-connected lumbosacral spine fusion with internal fixation disability have been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and was not linked to service. The other conditions were also not established by the evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.